By Teresa Lopez.

JROTC students fix their hats while they start off to get into line. They raise their flags and march across the turf, center stage under the lights, as they hear their boots rub against the field.

This year JROTC is actively recruiting new students to learn about character development, dedication, honor and insights to clear benefits about military life after highschool.

“We have a lot of freshman students that are involved in our color guard and after school practices and our drill team,” Colonel Robert Davidson said. “We’re looking forward to more cadets too.

The school’s JROTC chapter is in its second year having a drill team Which practices marching drills after school to prepare for matching competition. There’s 90,000 students overall in JROTC across the United States and about 30%-50% successfully enter the military after high school.

“This year the vision is to get more cadets involved. We need one hundred.” Davidson said. “JROTC is a citizenship program, it’s not a recruiting program. Just because you’re in JROTC for a year, two, or four doesn’t mean you have to go into the military.”

JROTC offers community service hours, helps with military, and citizenship preparation.

“If you want to go into the military it will help, it will give you a leg up and basic training but it’s not a requirement,”Davidson said.  “We want to make you a better citizen so when you graduate high school you can go out and do great things.”

THe JROTC is coming up with new events and schedules are getting full. The color guard members present the flags at sporting events and also competitions. In addition they work to earn community service hours as well.

“With Color guard we help make care packs for kids with Love and Care Ministries twice a month,” Davidson said. “There are events people call and ask for, and we do a lot of events annually.” “Probably the best thing is the C130 flight to try to get cadets there in January.”

JROTC dress requirements have changed and became more lenient this year.

“If you want to join, come talk to me or Chief Sokolnicki.” Davidson said. “First years don’t have to meet grooming standards, Students can opt out of the uniform and will be given a polo to wear on Wednesdays for citizen attire. Next year you’ll have to meet its requirements.”

JROTC also gives students opportunities to take a leap into student leadership.

“This year in JROTC we definitely started out with a bang we did a yard sale and it was a cadet run…We’re all very close,” Senior Deputy corps commander Leeanna Vasquez said. “I know the benefits it’s given me is responsibility and leadership skills, which definitely got me out of my shell and talk to new people.”

The core looks forward to welcoming more members.

“If you’re thinking about joining the military it definitely will help,” Vasquez said. “It’s also a P.E. credit and if you don’t want to do P.E. You can try that out. you don’t know if you don’t like something if you don’t try it out.”

Senior Hilari Alvarez is group commander, a fourth JROTC cadet.

“Overall it’s been pretty good and seeing first year cadets that get involved and seeing new faces.” Hilari Alvarez said. “This is really just to help you be better as a person and build citizenship. I was very disrespectful before I joined this program and it’s helped me alot. My parents have really noticed a difference. I feel like a lot of kids. It’s a way for them to get out of their shell. I just really want this to be that for them.”

The mission is to develop citizens of character and scholarship, and to provide opportunities, students don’t have to plan on joining the military to be in the class.

“We have people that are in athletics, people that are in band, people that are in criminal justice and are very diverse. It’s just a place where everyone gets along no matter what you’re in,” Alvarez said. “We’re in room 5107. I know this year we’re kind of big with not changing your schedules, but if you talk to our instructors, they’ll figure out a way to get you in.”